If the message “RTC battery is low” appears on your Toshiba Satellite laptop, it indicates that the motherboard cannot retain a charge. To make the replacement, you will need a CMOS battery with a CR2032 size, widely known as a watch battery.
What is an RTC battery?
The RTC stands for the Real-Time Clock. It is a small battery that tracks the computer’s current time while it is turned off. A laptop’s RTC battery usually runs on lithium coin cell batteries capable of holding the data for a specific time after your computer goes into hibernation or sleep mode. When you turn it back on, it resumes where it left off because these clock settings have been stored in RAM during sleep mode.
When your Toshiba Satellite shows the RTC battery low message, it tells you that this battery is nearing the end of its life and needs to be replaced very soon.
If you cannot replace it, keep your Toshiba laptop plugged into a power source to charge the RTC battery. But we all know that batteries will soon lose their ability to hold a charge, and this means that even when your laptop is plugged in, it will not be able to maintain an actual power source if the battery dies.
Ignoring the issue will cause malfunctions and cause problems with your daily system use. Replacing the RTC battery will fix the problem and allow your Toshiba to run normally again.
If you cannot replace the RTC battery, it’s best to take your laptop to a service center for help. If there isn’t any Toshiba service station nearby, try finding one online or contact the manufacturer directly.
To prolong the RTC battery for best performance, make sure you let your laptop charge completely before using it and also try keeping it plugged in as much as possible when you are not actively working with it. Make sure that you are aware of your Toshiba satellite battery life.
Where is the battery located on a Toshiba laptop?
The Toshiba RTC battery is located on the laptop’s mainboard. To access it, you need to unscrew all the screws from the bottom of your laptop and remove the mainboard cover. Be careful not to damage any other components in the laptop when doing this, as the other little parts are sensitive and can be damaged easily.
When replacing the battery, ensure you use a safe prying tool to pry out the old battery. Do not use any sharp tools or knives to do this. Insert the new battery gently, following the correct battery pattern. The positive side of the battery should be facing up. Make sure that you do not touch any other components in your laptop when replacing this battery, as it can cause damage to them if they are exposed to electricity or get short-circuited. Once you have returned the battery connect all the screws back into place and turn on your computer.
How to reset the date and time in a Toshiba laptop?
Resetting the date and time to your Toshiba is an easy process. The primary key that would help you restore this setting is pressing the F2 button on your keyboard. You may need to recheck if your laptop model uses this key, as some other models will require you to press the Escape button rather than the F2 button. Once you have pressed the F2 button, the screen will show you where you can navigate and change the date and time setting. Once you have corrected the setting, don’t forget to hit the save and exit button.
Conclusion
The Toshiba laptop is a very reliable computer. But, like other electronic devices, it has its downsides, especially if its RTC battery has been left uncharged for an extended time. To avoid inconvenience and bad battery life, take care of the RTC battery and charge it often or replace it with a new one as soon as the RTC battery low message appears. Suppose you still encounter errors after replacing the RTC battery; schedule a visit to an authorized Toshiba repair center and let the experts handle it for you. This way, you can have your laptop fixed with the assurance that it will work perfectly well after the repair.
F2 button
The F2 button is a keyboard button that helps to reset the date and time setting in Toshiba laptops. Pressing this button will allow you to navigate and change the date and time settings.
Escape button
Some Toshiba laptop models use the Escape button instead of the F2 button to reset the date and time settings. Check your laptop’s user manual to confirm the correct button for your model.